The World Bank and the Government of Tunisia are strengthening the country’s social protection system with US$90 million in additional financing for the Tunisia Social Development Promotion Support Project. This new support aims to help vulnerable households build better opportunities, access livelihoods, and enhance the effectiveness and long-term sustainability of Tunisia’s social protection programs.
The financing builds on the achievements of the original $700 million project over the past five years, which delivered emergency cash transfers to over 895,000 households, expanded permanent cash transfers under the AMEN program to more than 386,000 households, and provided family allowances to over 150,000 children aged 0 to 5. The new funding will extend family allowances to approximately 450,000 children aged 6 to 18 from poor and low-income households, helping reduce barriers to education and school dropout rates. It will also support the creation of a national disability fund to provide dedicated transfers and streamlined services for persons with disabilities.
In addition to expanding coverage, the project will accelerate the digitalization of Tunisia’s social protection system. This includes developing an Integrated Beneficiary Registry, broadening the use of digital payment tools, and piloting economic inclusion initiatives that combine self-employment and wage-employment pathways. These measures aim to help beneficiary households connect to job opportunities and achieve greater self-reliance.
World Bank officials highlighted that the reforms go beyond cash transfers, focusing on modernizing targeting systems, integrating data across social assistance and insurance programs, and establishing a unified, data-driven social protection framework. These steps are designed to build a comprehensive, adaptive, and resilient social protection system that safeguards vulnerable families and supports better opportunities for children across Tunisia.
